Cyclization mechanism of phomopsene synthase: mass spectrometry based analysis of various site-specifically labeled terpenes

J Antibiot (Tokyo). 2017 May;70(5):632-638. doi: 10.1038/ja.2017.27. Epub 2017 Mar 8.

Abstract

Elucidation of the cyclization mechanism catalyzed by terpene synthases is important for the rational engineering of terpene cyclases. We developed a chemoenzymatic method for the synthesis of systematically deuterium-labeled geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP), starting from site-specifically deuterium-labeled isopentenyl diphosphates (IPPs) using IPP isomerase and three prenyltransferases. We examined the cyclization mechanism of tetracyclic diterpene phomopsene with phomopsene synthase. A detailed EI-MS analysis of phomopsene labeled at various positions allowed us to propose the structures corresponding to the most intense peaks, and thus elucidate a cyclization mechanism involving double 1,2-alkyl shifts and a 1,2-hydride shift via a dolabelladien-15-yl cation. Our study demonstrated that this newly developed method is highly sensitive and provides sufficient information for a reliable assignment of the structures of fragmented ions.

MeSH terms

  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases / metabolism*
  • Cyclization
  • Deuterium / chemistry
  • Hemiterpenes / chemistry
  • Mass Spectrometry / methods*
  • Organophosphorus Compounds / chemistry
  • Polyisoprenyl Phosphates / chemical synthesis*
  • Terpenes / chemistry*

Substances

  • Hemiterpenes
  • Organophosphorus Compounds
  • Polyisoprenyl Phosphates
  • Terpenes
  • isopentenyl pyrophosphate
  • Deuterium
  • Alkyl and Aryl Transferases
  • terpene synthase
  • geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate